Vaccine development is a major challenge in fighting HIV infection. Even after repeated studies of the sera from acute and chronic HIV-infected individuals, researchers have not identified an immunogen that creates persistent antibodies to broadly neutralize the virus. In a new approach, Johnson et al. delivered an antibody gene through an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to bolster HIV immunity. This construct is administered by intramuscular injection, and antibodies are generated in muscle cells and distributed in the circulatory system. Their approach was effective in mouse models and their study shows that monkeys who are given this treatment have long-lived virus neutralization and protection against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Their work suggests a new strategy for developing an effective HIV vaccine.

Johnson PR, Schnepp BC, Zhang J, Connell MJ, Greene SM, Yuste E, Desrosiers RC, Reed Clark K. (2009). Vector-mediated gene transfer engenders long-lived neutralizing activity and protection against SIV infection in monkeys. Nat. Med. May 17 [Epub ahead of print] [doi:10.1038/nm.1967].
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2009